24.4.12

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED

This
Betfred.com World Championship is beginning to take a rather unpredictable turn
with a few shock results livening it up.

The
great thing about sport is that, for all the predictions, talk of the form book
and endless chatter which surrounds the actual action, until play happens
nobody really knows what the results will be.

It’s
clear the eight or nine players widely tipped to be in contention for the title
are not all having it their own way.

Cao
Yupeng’s defeat of Allen was a big surprise. Jamie Jones’s victory over Murphy
was perhaps less of one given his form coming into the tournament.

Jones
had a great chance to win 10-7 but couldn’t take it. He missed match ball red
for 10-8 before later knocking it in.

He
couldn’t help himself and punched the air in delight. This may have looked
unsporting but it was an instinctive and entirely understandable release of
emotion.

Good
for Jamie. He is known as a hard worker and this is the best result of his professional
career.

The
Ronnie O’Sullivan-Peter Ebdon encounter, which many felt was the tie of the
round, at the moment looks like ending in a comfortable victory for O’Sullivan.

As
I wrote before the tournament, O’Sullivan could be better mentally prepared
this time, as opposed to 2005, because he knew what was coming.

The
first frame seemed important. O’Sullivan won it on a re-spotted black. Had he
lost it then it may have been a different story, but he looked solid and would
be expected to come through from 7-2 up.

This
morning Judd Trump enters the fray a year on from his Crucible heroics.

Again,
most people are tipping him for success against Dominic Dale but he still has
to produce the goods.

The
soap opera that is the World Championship is not going to script so far. Even some
of the biggest characters are in danger of being written out long before the
final act.

20 comments:

Jamie apologised for his celebration in his BBC interview after the match. Not sure if he did the same for the main press conference. Is there a middle ground whereby players can show their delight without being thought unsporting? David Gilbert has also apologised this week. It's not like they're footballers taunting the rival stands. I think it's nice for them to be able to show some emotion. What have their opponents thought?

Not related to this post (sorry to hijack) but after a ruling - and wondered if you Dave, or any readers can help??

Years ago I played a match (was about 15 years old) and it came down to the final black. My opponent left me a very easy chance, so I potted it, but with the other end of my cue! (not very sporting I know, but it was a friendly match amongst mates).

My opponent called a foul and claimed the match - I said no foul and claimed the match.

Hi David. A few shock results so far, but, that is what can happen, as we know.

Another great day's play, in my view.

Trump .V. Dale. A good session, for Trump, considering, he wasn't well. 1-0 to Dale. A black-ball first frame. Dale did well to lead 3-1. Trump, will be delighted, I expect, to be 5-4 ahead, over-night.

Ding .v. Day - Agood standard from both, including, a Ding Century break. Day led 3-1 and 5-3, but Ding, to his pleasure, won frame nine. 5-4, over-night, to Ryan Day.

O'Sullivan .V. Ebdon - 7-2 up, O,Sullivan made a great clearance, from behind, to lead, 8-2. Ebdon stuck at it, but not at his best. O'Sullivan, a 10-4 winner, and the better player, in this match, in my view, anyway.

Dott .V. Perry - Perry impressive in parts. Dott, a poor performance. In my view, he did himself no favours, saying, to get his form, would be "A minor miracle." You should not think like that at ant event, most of all, The World Championship, in my view. Dennis Taylor, who commentated on the game, for the B.B.C, had the same view.

Lee .v. Higginson - The under-dog, was the better player, on the night. 5-4 ahead, Higginson was to lead 6-4 and 7-5. Lee did well to make it 7-6. Higginson, then played three very good style frame, to win 10-6. Lee did not play bad, Higginson played slightly better. Most of all, in the later stages of the match. Andrew Higginson .V. Jamie Jones, in round two, now. who would have thought that? The Crucible, can provide anything.

Selby .V. Hawkins - Selby, recovering from a neck injury, was 3-1 down. Hawkins, having played well. Selby did well to take the next two frames. 3-3. Hawkins led 4-3, having played a good sventh frame. A brea of 63 giving him ths lead.

Frame 8 - Selby's poor safety shot, leaving a red, over a pocket, leads to Hawkins making a break of 60-plus. This, a catalyst, after Selby, so nearly successfully, battled for, four snooker's, getting three of them, to Hawkins taking the frae, and, a 5-3 lead.

In frame nine, Hawkins was first in, positionally unlucky.Hawkins won a safety battle, made not much, off a Selby error. Selby missed a black off it's spot. From there, Hawkins did enough to clinch the frame. He leads. Hawkins leads, 6-3, over-night.

Stat Of The Day -

Today, 24- 4-2012, is the 581'st day of play, at The Crucible, in the World Professional Championship, since this event first came to The Crucible, in 1977. 35 years ago. I, can't wait, for day 582, of play in this event, at The Crucible, Tomorrow.